by A former Red Bull technical boss has stood by embattled Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner as pressure mounts on the Brit.
Despite a turbulent season and growing speculation about Horner’s future, former F1 team boss Günther Steiner insists Red Bull should stand by its long-time leader, insisting the Brit, who led the team to three consecutive drivers’ championships, “did not become stupid overnight”.
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Speaking to GPBlog, the former Haas Formula 1 team boss argued that Horner deserves more time to turn things around, pointing out that sudden leadership changes can sometimes do more harm than good.
“As soon as things don’t go well, people start pointing fingers. I think you should give Christian the chance,” said Steiner, who worked as technical operations manager at Red Bull from 2005 to 2008.
“It’s not my team so shareholders will know what they’re doing, but I don’t think he should be written off so easily.”
Horner and Red Bull’s difficult season
This year has been anything but smooth for Horner, whose tenure has been marred by controversy. Red Bull had off-track problems, including one internal power struggle with top advisor Helmut Marko and, at the beginning of the season, allegations of inappropriate behavior against Horner, of which he was acquitted by an internal investigation.
On track, the team has lost its dominance and is currently second in the constructors’ championship behind McLaren.
Lando Norris is now hot on Max Verstappen’s heels in the drivers’ championship and is putting further pressure on Red Bull’s lead.
However, Steiner dismissed the idea that Horner’s performance had suddenly declined, citing the team’s recent success.
“Christian didn’t suddenly become a bad team boss,” remarked Steiner.
“He didn’t become stupid overnight. Yes, they’re a little behind at the moment, but they’re not at the back of the grid. They are still one of the top teams.”
Steiner also acknowledged the growing unrest within Red Bull, which was widely reported in the press.
He noted that while internal conflicts were undeniable, Horner should not be made a scapegoat for the team’s current position.
“It is clear that there are problems in the team – we cannot deny that. It’s in the news every day,” he said.
“But if they don’t achieve quick, big successes again, something could change.”
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Despite Red Bull’s underperformance, Steiner believes it is premature to make hasty decisions.
He stressed that without a full insight into the inner workings of the team, it is difficult to assess the situation from the outside.
“If you don’t know all the details, it’s difficult to make decisions from the outside,” he concluded.
Horner has been at the helm of Red Bull Racing since 2005 and is widely regarded as one of the most successful team bosses in Formula 1.
Under his leadership, the team has won multiple constructors’ world championships, with Verstappen’s title wins further cementing his legacy.
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